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Daly Cherry-Evans' actions called out as NRL clubs left fuming over State of Origin bans

Many are questioning why NSW were the only team to cop suspensions.

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·5-min read

Daly Cherry-Evans has been called out for instigating the ugly State of Origin melee that resulted in two-match bans for NSW players Haumole Olakau'atu and Cameron Murray. Olakau'atu and Murray both entered guilty pleas on Thursday night and accepted their suspensions, but South Sydney and Manly have been left fuming over the development.

Olakau'atu and Murray will miss the next two games for the Sea Eagles and Rabbitohs respectively, after they both left the bench to get involved in the melee that spilled over the sideline on Wednesday night. Olakau'atu was dressed in civilian clothes and wasn't even part of the game-day team when he entered the fray, while Murray was waiting to come onto the field when he sprinted towards the scuffle to protect his teammates.

Daly Cherry-Evans in State of Origin 3.
Daly Cherry-Evans instigated the melee when he grabbed Jarome Luai and shoved him in the face (L), before Luai and Brian To'o were swamped by Queensland players (R). Image: Channel 9/Getty

When Murray got to the melee there was no fewer than 14 Queensland players around two from NSW - Jarome Luai and Brian To'o. But because Murray wasn't technically on the field at the time he copped a heavy punishment from the NRL.

In a brutal blow for Souths and Manly, the punishments will now hamper their efforts over the next fortnight. It has led to renewed calls for the NRL season to be put on hold during the Origin period, or for bans received in Origin games to only be served in rep footy - rather than club games.

Haumole Olakau'atu and Cameron Murray.
Haumole Olakau'atu and Cameron Murray both left the bench to get involved. Image: AAP/Channel 9

"We have been pleading with Andrew (Abdo) and Graham (Annesley) for years for a system that allows for any suspensions from representative football to be served for representative matches, just as international football (soccer) does," Souths CEO Blake Solly told The Daily Telegraph on Thursday. “Our current system is immature and does not reflect the challenges created by the ARLC’s ridiculous Origin schedule.

“Andrew and Graham keep telling us that it’s ‘all too difficult’, but we can successfully go to Las Vegas if we’re committed enough. The simple point is that they don’t care enough about the members and fans of the NRL clubs.”

Manly boss Tony Mestrov echoed that sentiment, saying: "NSW don’t get penalised. We get penalised. He could get two weeks and NSW don’t get penalised at all. What should happen, logic tells you, he should be suspended from the first Origin game next year and the same with Cam Murray."

Daly Cherry-Evans and Jarome Luai.
Daly Cherry-Evans grabbed Jarome Luai off the ball and palmed him in the face. Image: Channel 9

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Debate has erupted in the aftermath of Origin 3 after the punishments for Murray and Olakau'atu, and why none of the Queensland players have been banned. Cherry-Evans instigated the whole thing by grabbing Jarome Luai and shoving him in the face, while Jeremiah Nanai escalated the situation by driving Luai over the sideline as the third man in.

"It wouldn’t have happened if Cherry-Evans hadn’t have started the stink," Phil Rothfield said on NRL 360 on Thursday night. "It’s DCE’s fault. I don’t care what you say. Of course it’s his fault. Daly Cherry-Evans had no right to start a skirmish with Jarome Luai. It was so unnecessary."

Braith Anasta added: “I actually think Nanai is the one. Nanai is the reason that the Blues got the penalty." Rothfield then concluded: “You’re overlooking the fact that Queensland had the ball on zero tackle and Cherry-Evans put on the stink that led to Nanai coming in that led to Murray (coming in)."